Banana footbridge closes for up to 18 months

Bristol City Council said the bridge will be closed for up to 18 months

A popular inner-city footbridge will close for up to 18 months for £2m worth of extensive repairs.

Known locally at the Banana Bridge, Langton Street Bridge which crosses the New Cut of the River Avon in Bristol, will close on 13 May.

The work includes removing the bridge's surface, repairing the structure and masonry and a repaint.

Bristol City Council said the length of the closure will depend on what condition the bridge is currently in.

The work is expected to cost around £2m

Diversions will be in place via Bath Bridge in Bath Road or Bedminster Bridge.

Administered by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), the work is being funded by the Department for Transport's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.

The bridge, which was initially used as a temporary crossing while Bedminster Bridge was being constructed, was built in 1883.

When Bedminster Bridge was completed in 1884 the temporary bridge was moved up the river to Langton Street.